Sole for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes.



I S. W. WINSLQW, JR. SOLE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. 1912. RENEWED DEC. 1|. I917.

1,29,894. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

\\ Av v SIDNEY W. WINSLOW, J'B., OF BEVERLY,

PATENT OFFICE.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORIORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOLE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Application filed April 5, 1917, Serial No. 159,981.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY W. WINSLOW, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Soles for Use in the Mannfacture of Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating, like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to improvements in soles for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes and ismore articularly applicable to the production 0 soles such as are used principally in the manufacture of turn shoes.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is necessary in making turn shoes to provide the sole with suitable means for. receiving and holding the single faced stitches which are used in attaching the shoe upper directly to the sole, this means usually being a marginal shoulder and a channel formed in the upper surface of the sole. While it has been deemed desirable to use vulcanized rubber compound soles in making turn shoes, the fact that these soles are not adapted to the ordinary methods of preparation to enable the shoe upper to be attached to the sole by single faced stitches has presented problems which have greatly retarded the manufacture of rubber sole turn shoes.

The principal object of the present invention is to produce an improved vulcanized rubber compound turn sole the use of which will enable an attractive and serviceable rubber sole turn shoe to be manufactured with the same facility and under the same general shoe factory conditions as a leather sole turn shoe.

With this obj ect in view the invention con. templates the manufacture of a rubber sole for a turn shoe comprising a vulcanized rubber compound body having a stitch receiving structure on its upper side consisting of fabric. A fabric sewing rib on a rubber compound sole, as distinguished from a rubber core, fabric-covered sewing rib, is a novel feature and is an important advance in the art of making shoes for reasons that will hereinafter fully appear. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the stitch receiving structure or sewing rib is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1.1, 1919.

Renewed December 11, 1917. Serial No. 206,975.

formedvby a fabric member connected by vulcanization with the rubber compound body with a portion extending substantially longitudinally of the member and raised relatively to laterally adjacent portions of the sole to constitute a stitch receiving and holding rib. This fabric member of which the stitch receiving structure is a part is preferably a firm woven textile material, for example heavy canvas, and by so relating this fabric member with the body that a portion of the fabric projecting above the rubber body of the sole constitutes the sewing rlb a substantially all-fabric and nonstretchable sewing rib is provided for the attachment of the shoe upper. A stitch recelving rib having these characteristics is of lmportance in the production of a satisfactory rubber turn sole since it greatly facilitates the sewing operation and enables a tight and strong seam to be made and contributes to the production of a shoe that will hold its shape during wear.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the stitch receiving structure of the sole is formed by the upstanding marginal edgeor hem of a layer of textile fabric which is connected by vulcanization with the rubber compound body. Preferably the layer of fabric has its edge folded back on the body to produce a wide hem formed into an upstanding edge which, in the completed sole, projects upwardly above laterally adjacent portions of the body so as to constitute a substantially all-fabric sewing rib. Conveniently, and as herein shown, the textile fabric layer is incorporated in or assembled between layers of the rubber compound body before vulcanization and the sole then molded and vulcanized, the molding pressure causing a complete union to be produced during vulcanization between the fabric and the rubber compound of the sole.

Preferably, also, the molds are suitably.

scription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a shoe produced by the use of a sole of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section illustrating one manner in which the sole of the present invention may be produced.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the preferred embodiment of the sole of the invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention asole shaped blank 2 of green or unvulcanized rubber compound having sufficient thickness to offer a firm and serviceable wearing bottom for a shoe is first provided, together with a strip 4 of green rubber corresponding in width to the width of the feather of the sole and of a length to extend completely around the sole. The stitch receiving structure for the sole consists of a sheet of firm woven textile fabric 6 such,

is preferably doubled over upon itself, as

illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, a distance to provide a wide fold or hem the outer edge of which is turned-up to project sufiiciently above the upper surface of the sole to enable the shoe upper to be attached.

These sole parts 2, 4 and 6 are assembled in a two-part vulcanizing mold. The bottom mold 10 has a recess 11 shaped to receive the sole blank 2 and of a depth corresponding approximately to the thickness of the sole to be made. The sole blank 2 is first placed in the mold l0 and the narrow rubber compound strip 4 laid on top of the blank 2 and against the wall of the recess. The hemmed folded marginal portion 8 of the fabric member 6 is arranged in the mold on top of the blank 2 and against the inner sides of the strip 4 to present, at substantially right angles to the plane of the body portion, a stitch receiving rib 12. Another blank 14 of green rubber compound, shaped to fit within the upturned flange ofthe fabric member 6, may next be placed in the mold as illustrated in Fig. 2. This layer of I rubber builds up the middle part of the sole and, inthe vulcanizing process becomes united substantially integrally with the sole member 2, both members 2 and 1 f being therebyunited firmly to the fabric member 6. Also, the member 14 coiipera'tes with the strip member 4 to provide the proper lateral body 2 will, in the absence of a layer 14,

sufficiently penetrate through the fabric 6 and form a coating on top of the fabric so that portions of the fabric lying below the plane of the top of the sole are vulcanized in the rubber compound in any case. After the different sole parts are assembled in position in the bottom mold 10, pressure is applied to the sole by the top mold 16, conveniently, as an incident to the vulcanization of the sole in a suitable vulcanizing appa-- ratus. The bottom face of the mold 16 has a recess 20 to receive the projecting fabric sewing rib 12 and the surfaces 22 of the mold laterally adjacent to the recess 20 are formed so as to provide the'des'ired feather 24 ex tending around the margin of the sole and, along the inside of the rib, to compress the material and provide suflicient clearance for the curved sewing needle used in attaching the shoe upper. A sufficient amount of rubber from the layer 14 or from the body 2 will flow up on to the inside wall of the rib 12 when the sole is subjected to pressure to brace the riband maintain it in stitch receiving relation to the sole. However, the surfaces 22 of the mold are formed so that the rubber which flows up on to the inside wall of the rib is not suflicient in any way to be detrimental to the substantially all-fabric character of the rib. These surfaces 22 on the upper mold determine,.to a large extent, the amount of projection of the sewing rib 12 above the laterally adjacent portions of the sole and form a well-defined angle between the feather and the outer wall of the rib. This feature of the sole of the present invention is of considerable advantage inasmuch as the shoe upper is drawn down into this angle when secured tothe sole and it therefore defines the outline of-the base of the upper. The vulcanization of the sole effects an integral bonding and union of the several parts of the sole and imparts desired permanency of contour to the sole.

It will be noted that the portion of the fabric projecti g above the upper surface of the sole an constituting the stitch receiving rib 12 is strongly anchored in the rubber compound body and presents an exceedingly firm striking shoulder for the needle. A further and important feature to be noted in the sole herein described resides in the fact that the material constitut the'sti'tch receiving rib 12 for thesole is in substantially all fibrous and non-compressible in which case the sewin .needleupene "marginal portion of sai molded to produce a portion projecting trates it much more readily t an if it-were rubber and, because the fabric is ;-substan-' tially inextensibleascompared with rubber, the upper may be drawn .to the ribwith a 10 is of rubber. By folding the fabric material.-

6 so that its outer edge is embedded the rubber compound-body, for example as illustighter and stronger seam than when the rib trated, the two-walled stitch receiving {rib 12 insures its accurate presentation forthe sewing operation besides reventing the fraying out of the material particularly where it has been cut on the bias. The sole of this invention may be employed in the same manner as a leather turn sole and under substantially the same shoe factory conditions, a shoe upper 30 being secured, in the first instance, to the sole by stitches received and held in the stitch receiving rib 12 of the sole and thereafter the shoe turned right. side out; The resulting shoe embodies all of the advantages of rubber sole shoes in general beside the recognized features of turn shoes.

The term rubber as herein used is not intended to be limited to a material the major part of which is rubber, but is used herein generically to include various rubber containing materials such as the so-called fiber soles now used extensively, as well as other similar materials.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters' Patent of the United States is 1. As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes comprising a vulcanized rubber body having a stitch receiving structure on its upper s1de consisting of a fabric member embedded in the rubber compound with a portion of the said fabric member projecting freely above the rubber body in a relation to present a stitch receiving rib raised relatively to laterally adjacent portions of the sole.

2. As an article of manufacturaa rubber.

sole for turn shoes comprisinga vulcanized rubber compound body and a textile fabnc 'member connected by vulcanization with the rubber body with. its marginal portion independent ofthe rubber body and project ing above laterally adjacent portions of the. rubber body portion ofthe sole to form-a stitch receivin rib on the upper side of the 3. As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes comprising a rubber body having a stitch receiving rib formed on the upper side and consisting substantially whol y of fabric anchored to the rubher body by vulcanization.

.' 4. Asan articleofmanufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes comprising a rubber above :laterallyadjacent surfaces of the sole andsconsti-tutmg a substantially all-fibrous sewing rib. 5.;As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole. for turn shoes comprising; a vulcanized rubber compound body and a fabric member anchored in the rubber compound and having a ortion of the member unvulcanized to the ru her body and pro'ecting above laterally adjacent portions 0 the sole to form a stitch receiving and -holding rib on theupper surface of the sole.

6. As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes comprising a vulcanized rubber compound body with a textile fabric member connected by vulcanization with the rubber-body and having a marginal portion which is raised with relation to laterally ad jacent ortions of the sole and forms a sub.- stantia ly all-fabric stitch receiving rib.

7. As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes consisting of a rubber compound body with .a textile fabric member connected by vulcanization with the rubher compound body, said fabric member having its marginal portion folded longitudinally'and projecting above the rubber body to form a' two-walled stitch receiving and holding rib for the sole. r

8. As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes consisting of a vulcanand holding rib 9. As an article of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes consistin of a vulcanized rubber compound body'an a textile fabric member connected by vulcanization with the rubber compound body and having its marginal' portion projectmg above the rubber body and constituting a substantially; all- 'fibrous non-"compressible and non-stretchiable. stitch receiving rib.

10. As anarticle of manufacture, a rubber sole forturn shoes consist-mg of a vulcanized rubber compound body and a textile fabric member connected by. vulcan1za-.

tion with thejfubber compound body and having its'marginal portion projecting-above the rubber body and constituting an allfibrous and non-stretchable sewing rib.

11. As anarticle of manufacture, a rubber sole for turn shoes comprising a vulcanized rubber compound body and a layer of textile fabric embedded in the upper surface of the rubber compound body and having its marginal portion folded longitudinally on itself with the folded portion projecting above the upper face of the body at substantially right angles thereto and constituting a stitch receiving rib for single faced stitches.

12. As an article of manufacture, a vulcanized rubber compound turn sole provided with a textile fabric stitch receiving structure anchored along its base in the materia-l of the sole and having its adjacent marginal portion offset from the sole to form a stitch receiving and holding rib.

13. As an article of manufacture, a sole for turn shoes comprising a rubber body and having a stitch receiving element raised from its upper side and comprising a fibrous member having its edges embedded in the rubber compound, and a portion between its edges projecting above laterally adjacent surfaces of the sole, said stitch receiving element being formed and arranged so as to provide a substantially all-fabric material in the path of the needle of the sewing machine when a shoe upper is attached to the said sole.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 80 

